Life-preserver.



N. PSZYSTAS.

LIFE PRESEBVER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1914. 1,145,511 0. Patented July 6, 1915.

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FUEL 1 2:9" m 3- '3 WITNESSES: 7/ 1/ '70 INVENTOR. 6? @Mi 3-. W W I@425. @4164 F By ATTORNEY S',

NICHOLAS PSZYSTAS, WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application filed November 7, 1914. Serial No. 870,897.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NICHOLAS PSZYSTAS, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Westfield, in thecounty of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new anduseful Life-Preserver, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in life-saving devices, and moreparticularly to that class of such devices in which is included means ofpropulsion and steering means, and said invention consists in general ofa jointed and foldingframe provided with buoyant elements, a seat and asupport for the feet, and certain peculiar propellirfg and steeringmechanism, all as hereinafter set forth.

The object of my invention is to provide a comparatively simple andlightweight life-preserver, that can be folded for convenience instoring and in carrying about, and to equip such a device with easilyoperated means for both propelling and steering the same with the handsof the operator, either or both operations being performed by theoperator while he grasps a cranked shaft. The operator does not have torelease his original grasp, or make any manual change during the acts ofpropelling and steering this device, beyond the ordinary movement of thehands to revolve the aforesaid shaft and to oscillate the same on ahorizontal plane. This is an important advantage, because it enables theoperator to maintain constant control of the driving apparatus, and ofthe steering apparatus as well, using both hands for the purpose.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the followingdescription.

I attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by themeans illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is alongitudinal section through a life-preserver that embodies a practicalform of my invention; Fig. 2, a bottom plan of the same, a portion ofthe foot-rest being removed to show in full lines the parts at andadjacent to the junction of the propeller shaft with its post, and, Fig.3, an edge elevation of said life-preserver, showing it folded inreadiness to be transported out of the water, or to be hung on somesuitable support.

Similar numerals designate similar parts through the several views.

Although I have shown and will describe a preferred construction of thelife-preserver, it is to be understood that changes in the shape, size,arrangement, and construction of some or all of its parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention. 7

Referring to the drawings it will be observed that the frame of thelife-preserver consists of fore and aft sections 1 and 2, respectively,which have inner semi-circular members 3--3, the contiguous ends ofwhich are hinged or pivoted together at 44, and form, when the frame isextended or open, a ring for the body of the person using the device,that is, the operator. This frame may be constructed out of wood ormetal, and should. be as light in weight as possible. Each pivot 4passes through a pair of lugs 5 which depend from eachpair of contiguousterminals of the ring-forming members 3, and the construction andarrangement are such that the frame sections 1 and 2,

with their members 3, can be brought into,

alinement with each other, as shown in the first two views, or can befolded downwardly or inwardly so as'to assume a parallel relationship,as shown in the last view. The frame members are prevented, when openedor extended, from passing beyond a plane common to both, by means of thecontiguous ends of the members 3, which ends come together as soon asthe full open position is attained and so effectively check furthermovement upwardly or outwardly on the pivots *1. Buoyancy in therequired degree is produced through the medium of fore and aft floats orpads 6 and 7, respectively, which are secured to the frame sections 1and 2, respectively. These pads or floats may be made of upper and undersheets of water-proof fabric or other material, and a filling of cork orother suitable material. The floats 6 and 7 are let into the sections 1and 2, and the major portion of the thickness of each of said floats isbelow the bottom inner plane of the section to which it is attached.Eyes 8-8 are provided at the outer ends of the frame sections 1 and 2for the reception of a hook or other supporting device, when thelife-preserver is folded and stored. The lugs 5 are of sufficient lengthto leave room for the floats when the frame is folded. Attached to therear ring member 3 is a seat 9, preferably of flexible material, andhaving its ends secured to the frame sections 1 and 2 near their outerterminals and beneath the floats 6 and 7 is a fo0trest 10. The foot rest10 in this case consists of a strip of flexible material of sufficientlength to extend the required distance below the center of the frame,when the latter is extended, to accommodate the feet of the person onthe seat 9. An oscillatory post 11 is mounted beneath and supported fromthe frame section 1 in the central longitudinal plane of said sectionand just forward of the body opening in the ring members 3. Journaled inthe post 11 is a shaft 12 having therein two cranks 13, one for eachhand of the operator when seated in the life-preserver. Two collars 14con the shaft 12, one each side of the post 11, hold said shaft againstendwise movement. Secured on the shaft 12 at each end is a propeller 15.Hangers or brackets 16 are provided as additional supports for the shaft12 and the parts and members carried thereby. The brackets 16 dependfrom the section 1 at or adjacent to the junction with said section ofits member 3, and are rigidly secured thereto. The base of each bracket16 is in the form of a bearing box 17 which is provided to re ceive theshaft 12, and in which said shaft not only can revolve freely, but canalso be oscillated, the ends of such box limiting the amount of theoscillatory movement. The amount of oscillation permitted the shaft 12by the boxes 17 is sulhcient for the steering operation presently to bedescribed. Securely attached to and depending from the frame section 2,near the rear end thereof, is a stud or post 18, and mounted on saidpost is a rudder 19 of ordinary type. A tiller in the form ofoppositely-disposed laterallyextending arms 20 is provided for the rudder, and tiller ropes 2121 (or equivalent members) extend from the outerends of said tiller or arms to a pair of rings 22 loosely mounted on theshaft 12. Each ring 22 is located on the shaft 12 between one of thecranks 13 and a pin 23 set transversely in said shaft. The ropes 21 areboth of the same length. The shaft 12 can revolve in the rings 22without carrying them around with it. It will be seen from the foregoingthat oscillation on the part ofthe shaft 12 is transmitted through therings 22, the ropes 21 and the arms 20 to the rudder 19, wherefore thelatter is operated from said shaft to steer the lifepreserver, saidshaft being actuated by the hands of the operator on the cranks 13, inwhichever direction may be required to throw said rudder in the properdirection. This steering operation can be effected either while theshaft 12 is being revolved or when said shaft is rotatably idle. Inpractice the operator sits on the seat 9, with his feet on the support10, bends forward and grasps the cranks 13, and revolves the shaft 12and the propellers 15 to drive the device through the water, steeringmeanwhile in the manner described above. The device can be drivenbackward as well as forward, the backward movement being brought aboutsimply by reversing the direction of the propellers.

Obviously this device is well adapted for aquatic pleasure, besidesbeing a safe and serviceable life-preserver.

What I claim as my invention, and desire with a float-provided frame,and brackets having slotted bearing boxes, said brackets being attachedto said frame, of a rotary crank-shaft carried by said boxes and adaptedto be oscillated therein, propelling members on said shaft, a ruddersupported from said frame, and connections between said shaft andrudder, whereby the latter is controlled by the former.

3. The combination, in a life-preserver,

with a float-provided frame, brackets having slotted bearing boxes, saidbrackets being attached to said frame, and an oscillatory post carriedby said frame, of a crank-shaft journaled to rotate in said post andbearing and adapted to oscillate in said boxes, means to hold said shaftagainst endwise movement, and propelling members on said shaft.

4. The combination, in a life-preserver, with a float-provided frame,brackets having slotted bearing boxes, said brackets being attached tosaid frame, and an oscillatory post carried by said frame, of acrank-shaft journaled to rotate in said post and bearing and adapted tooscillate in said boxes, means to hold said shaft against endwisemovement, propelling members on said shaft, a rudder supported from saidframe, and connections between said shaft and rudder whereby the latteris controlled by the I former.

5. The combination, in a life-preserver, with a float-provided frame, ofa rotary and oscillatory crank-shaft carried by said frame, propellingmembers on said shaft, loose members on said shaft, a rudder supportedfrom said frame, and tiller connections between said loose members andsaid rudder, whereby the latter is controlled by said shaft.

6. The combination, in a life-preserver, with a float-provided jointedand folding frame consisting of fore and aft sections havingbody-receiving members at their inner ends, and body-supporting meansattached to said frame, of a rotary and oscillatory crank-shaft carriedby and transversely to said fore section, propelling members on saidshaft at both ends, a rudder supported from said aft section, andconnections between said shaft, at points on both sides of itstransverse center, and said rudder,Whereby the latter is controlled bythe former.

Copies of. this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Washington, D. G.

NICHOLAS PSZYSTAS.

Witnesses:

F. A. CUTTER, A. C. FAIRBANKS.

Commissioner of Patents,

